Panel securing means



Mr-19,1942. H. G. PlLLsBuRY PANEL SECURING MEANS Filed April 19, 1941 Patente-c1 May 19, 1942 PANEL SECURING MEANS a Howard G. Pillsbury, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Chamberlin Metal Weather Strip Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 19, 1941, serial No. 389,275

(ci. 18s-s4) 6 claims.

This invention relates to an improved panel securing means and method, its object being to V provide unusually effective securement for a foraminous sheet or panel in a holding frame therefor, together with an improved method of manufacture ofthe unit, all enabling any foraminous sheet or panel, such as wirer screen, to be firmly, rigidly and securely fastened in its frame.

The invention is capable of use in connection with and for a variety. of devices,.such as ordinary screens for windows, doors Vor other openings of buildings, for detention screens such` as` are used for the windows and doors of psychiatric or other institutions of confinement, for guard panels for booths or cages, such as the protecting cages of bank oflicers, or for panels used for nre-proof, explosion-proof, Vor other forms of walls, ceilings, partitions or other partsof buildings. While it is not limited to 'such use, for convenience, and in no sense of limitation, the description will irst refer to a Wall structure where wire mesh screen is used, in the construetion of reproof or explosion-proof units for walls, partitions, and ceilings in buildings devoted to the manufacture, storage, or handling of materials which constitute an` explosion or fire hazard. As the description proceeds it will be apparent, however, that the method and means herein disclosed are applicable wherever an indented or perforated sheet is xedly held between retaining members.

In a copending joint application filed by me and one Elton B. Ingersoll, U. S. Serial No. 385,- 403, filed March 27, 1941, there is disclosed a Wall structure which, toV a high degree, is fireproof and at the same time offers a yieldable yet impermeable barrier to all but the `most severe explosions. It has heretofore been recognized that a rigid wall structure affords little or no protection in case of an explosion in close proximity thereto, unless of course the wall is made so thick and strong that its cost is likely to be prohibitive. A preferred structure, as disclosed in the aforesaid copending application, involves a structural unit which is not entirely rigid and which not only conserves space, but also yields sufficiently oni'lrst impact of expanding gases, or iiying debris or bomb fragments, to prevent shattering, thereby permitting the explosion forces to find outlet in a predetermined direction through a relatively more yieldable wallportion. Preferably this structural unit is composed of at least two superposed sheets of foraminous metallic screen material, said sheets having thereon a coating of fireproof plaster, the superposed sheets being gripped alo-ng their peripheralk edges in frame members to provide. a laminated panel which is relatively highly resistant toA the.. destructive effects of fires and explosions,V and which is sufliciently yieldableto cushion initial impact, either solid or gaseous.

While in the vaforesaid. copending application. entirely adequate means was disclosed for holding the described yieldable i'lreproof'panels in a retaining structure, I have discovered,las a result ofactual tests in explosion testing chambers and under the impact of severe explosions, that the method rand structure herein to be described and claimed are superior to any other so farjdeveloped, since theyfurnish a positive, continuous, wedge grip of the sheetl or panelalong the peripheral edge portion of the panel assembly, and

sudden impact or increasing tension merely increases this gripping `effect.

Before the presentI nvention is described in detail, it is to be understood that such invention isnot limited to the details of construction' and/or the specific arrangement of parts herein l illustrated and/or described,`as` the invention obviously may'take other forms. It also is tobe understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for the purpose of, description, and not of limitation. Y

Fig- 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of one form of wall-unit mounted in accordance with my invention; Y l

Fig. 2 is av somewhat enlarged View of a por-V tionofFig.1.- l. Y K

Fig. Sis a section, somewhat enlarged, taken on thel line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Y Fig. 4 `is a fragmentary sectional View showing my method of grip-ping a single screen panel between frame members.

Fig. 5 is a view, somewhat similar to Fig. 3,

showing another method of assembly of adja cent structural units; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryV section, somewhat enlarged, showing a single sheet, vof flreproof char-,

tures for resisting the injurious effects of i-lre and y explosion are fully disclosed, said structures are preferably assembled by abutting, in edge-contacting relationship, a series of panels, each pan` el having as its basic element a layer or sheet of screen wire, or metallic mesh fabric, used as' a resilient supporting framework or skeleton for a layer of fireproof plaster material. The

strengthening and supporting element is a me- Y tallic screen which may vary in mesh size and wire diameter depending on particular circumstances. A panel composed of a single sheet of this fireproof material affords material protection but the general strength, shock resistance, and heat resistance of the structural unit are materially improved by forming the panel of a plurality of superposed layers of the above character united at their peripheral edges in a retaining frame. Since very severe explosions, or

the impact of debris or shell fragments propelled at high velocity, may tend to Vpull the screen edges from the retaining frame I have devised the following method and means of securely anchoring the screen.

In the drawing, Fig. l shows a lportiono'f a wall constructedfby assembling a plurality of adjacent panels I0, retained in edge abutment by any suitable means. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3, adjoining units are clamped inV assembled relationship by insertingbetween their adjacent edges the web II of a T-'bar I2, and suitable angle members I3 are fitted to the exposed portion of the T-bar web, the assembly being held in permanent attachment by bolts I4.

An alternative method of assembly is shown in' Fig. 5, the drawing being so clear [to anyone mechanically skilled that detailed explanation is unnecessary. i

In accordance with` the present invention I place the peripheraledge portions of the'screen orother suitable foraminous panel material I5 Abetween two superposed open rectangular frames I6 (Fig. 4). The outwardly disposed edge faces of frame members I 6 are curved or contoured to provide therebetween an outwardly opening and haring channel I'I for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The frames, so' assembled, are united in iirm screen gripping relationship by any suitable retaining means, such as rivets I8,

A screws, bolts, spot welds, or otherwise.

Having assembled a single structural unit, such as described, comprising theY foraminous' sheet or panel and its frame, together with the securing or retaining means I8, I next permanently anchor the edges of the sheet in the ared groove or space in which they lie. This I accomplish by employing any suitable material which 'can be applied in a soft or uent state, either molten or plastic, and which will harden in'situ so as to become substantially an integral part of the wire screen, penetrating and filling lall of its openings or interstices which are covered by the frame members and also the outwardly flared portion of the groove exposed along the edges of the frame, and which, when hard, i's suinciently strong for the purposeand not likely to crumble, shear or break away, all to provide the necessary more or less permanent anchor.' All such materials, whatever their composition, which can be applied in a soft or nuent condition and which subsequently solidify or harden and are suiiiciently strong, I here refer to, for convenience, as hardening materials.

Any of the usual or well known modern thermosetting or thermo-plastic materials capable of hardening either by heating or by cooling, such asy the phenolic or other synthetic resins, or certain plastic hardening cements, such as are used for the joints of furnace settings, may be4 employed for ,the purposeo'r even a lowzmelting point metal, such aslead, or low melting point alloys of lead, bismuth, cadmium and tiri or other metals are suitable.

When a plastic material is used it is squeezed or forced, in a plastic condition, usually under 5 pressure, as from a caulking gun, into the groove which opens outwardly along the outer edges of the frame members, with pressure suiiicient to cause it to i'low into and around the wires or material and through the openings of the 10 foraminous panel along its edges where covered by the frame members. 'I'hen the plastic material is allowed or caused to harden, either by standing, as the result of drying, oxidation, or

other chemical action, or by the application of heat ora cooling agent to produce similar hardeningaction, as may be necessary.

When a low melting point metal or alloy is used for the purpose the molten metal may be cast or poured directly into the groove, in the presence of a suitable flux, and thus be permitted to flow into" interlocking engagement with the wires and' intersticesV of the foraminous panel. A more convenient method, however, is to apply the metal tothe open groovelor crevice in the form of a rod or Vwire of 'suitable size, whereupon, by local application of heat, asby a blow torch, the" lead or alloy rod or wire may. be caused to melt locally and run down vinto the groove,

f`rya quasi casting stepik quite analogous to ordinary a'o-leadturning.l s uziiicierit ieati or'aiioy is applied to atleast lill the flared groove level,l but preferablya slight excess is employed so' that when rough spots are iild oio'r otherwise'r'e- ..moved, the llin'g leadV or',` softv metal, projects atisiightiy from' the groeve, as indicated at isa, Fig. 4. This excess, if continuous or substantially so, around the entire frame, provides a cushion to engage' any' adjoining steel or iron of the window Or wall frarne in which the panel is secured 4'and not onlytakes up unevenness in the joint,

but cushions the panel against injury.

Temperatures are employed, during the fusing or casting Operatik'jnsuincient to cause the metal to melt ane'fiow freeiy into the joint and thereby completely surround and interpenetrate the' wires and interstices ofthe metallic screen, Aso that when'the metal Vsolidiie's upon cooling the screen orioraminou's' panelan'd thejsurrounding soft metal are substantially integral and therefore are inseparable. Y

Whichever material is employed, plastic or metal, it becomes so hard and tough that strain on the panel orl sheet, which might pull it out from between the frame parts, is strongly re- `isste'd, without shearing, crumbling or breaking ofthe anchoring material, and the holding action is secure enough to bridge the gaps between rivets or bolts `and prevent any separation whatsoever. i If the frame membersV I6 are affixed in a building structure, lfor instance such ,as shown in section in Figs. 3 and 5, and any deforming force is applied in a'direetion normal or parallel to the planeof the screen layer, such force will ordinarily` be successfully resisted by the gripping eiect of the trames' I6 and rivets I8. If the force is so greatthat the screen edge might normally be inclined to tear away around the edges, thewedge-shaped mass of anchoring ma- `terial greatly' increases', the resistance of the screen material to forcible withdrawal against tn ewedge ioeking tendency. l Figs. 3 and 5 illustrate, for convenience and s.. Lsirnp l.itity,inur separate 'embodiments of the in,- vn'tion diiiering incertain details of assembly;

In Fie. 3 there'are shown two` structural units,

made up from a mixture ofzdesiccated rock wool.

and asbestos fibre. .The frame members of unit 20 are substantially rectangular in'cross ,section exceptfor the portions cut away at 25, Figp3,

to provide the outwardly opening are. In unit 2l theV flare effect `is increased over that shown in Fig. 4, and is further supplemented by grooves 26 which accentuate the keying effect by providing an anchoring tendency against motion of the screen panel in both directions. In this unit also the unit has a laminated panel built up from two superposed reproof layers. In either case, the anchoring material l'9 may be a suitable hardening plastic material, or a low fusing point metal or alloy, as before.

In Fig. 5 two additional structural units are shown, and indicated generally by reference numerals 21 and 28. The reprcof panel of unit 21 is a laminated construction comprising a layer of relatively coarse mesh screen 29, between two layers of relatively finer mesh screens 3B. One or more of these layers carries a reproof plaster layer or coating. The frame members 3| have a tapered exposed face Y32 to provide a surface which retains no substantial dust particles and which may be readily cleaned. The panel of unit 2B is a laminated construction comprising a central sheet 33 of relatively coarse mesh, having on each face two superposed layers of relatively fmer mesh screen, one or more of the layers carrying, or being impregnated with, a layer of iireproof material as described. As indicated by the drawing, the amount of taper or flare to the outer edge of the groove between the frame edges may be varied to suit the anticipated strain as determined by the specific application.

The retaining frame members are preferably of metal, especially when the anchoring material is a soft fusible metal, and also to secure the greatest possible strength in the structure generally. Since, however, the present invention may be found useful in various general applications, the frame members might be formed from wood, in which case the anchoring material may be a hardening plastic substance, or a hardening cement, or a low melting point metal or alloy might be used as an anchoring means, such alloys being available which have a melting point below the ignition point of wood. Alloys of lead, bismuth, cadmium and tin are available for this purpose, although I prefer to use molten lead in conjunction with metal frames.

Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the inventive concept herein involved. In this embodiment I have used the grooved locking construction, such as is shown at 26 in Fig. 3, without the additional wedge lock of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 shows a panel 35 retained between frame members 36. The gripping faces of the frame members are provided with longitudinal, opposed, grooves 37. Molten solder, lead, cement, or other suitable material is injected into said grooves after the foraminous panel is gripped in the position shown in Fig. 7, and prior to solidification the locking material interpenetrates the perforations of the panel and the undercut grooves, freezing and hardening therein. Suitable gating apertures for the introduction of the spaced in accordance with the length of the frame members and othermaterial factors as will be understood by those skilled in the art.v

The inventiondescribed provides a panelf structure or unit, including the foraminoussheet and the frame in which it is. mounted, suitablel for use either asY a screen for window, door or other building openings, orV fora portion of a wall vor partition thereof, or evenV for use as a.

separating screen in screening machines, such as are used for sifting or separating pulverulent material. In all cases'the screen or foraminous sheet is firmly, rigidly and more or less permanently anchored in the frame by simple means capable of application at low cost and providing;

a very durable screen for the purpose.

What I claim is:

1. A structural unit including two open frame members, a foraminous panel extending across the opening in said unit and having foraminous edge portions, and afxed, at said edge portions, between said members, the adjacent faces of said members having outwardly flaring edges defining a peripherally extending channel surrounding the said panel edge portions and opening outwardly, and retaining means for holding said panel edge between said frames comprising a low melting point metal filling strip fused into said channel and interpenetrating the foraminous edge portions of said panel.

2. The method of anchoring a foraminous panel in a supporting frame structure, comprising disposing an edge portion of said panel between two superposed rigid frame members having outwardly flared facing portions to provide therebetween a tapered channel surrounding the edge of said panel, securely fastening said frame members in fixed relationship, applying relatively soft fluent self-hardening filling material to said channel, and permitting said lling material to interpenetrate the foraminous edge portions of said panel and to harden in situ.

3. The method of anchoring a forarninous panel in a supporting frame structure, comprising disposing an edge portion of said panel between two superposed rigid frame members having outwardly flared facing portions to provide therebetween a tapered channel surrounding the edge of said panel, securely fastening said frame members in xed relationship, and flowing molten metal into said channel so as to cause it to interpenetrate the apertures in said panel edge portion, and permitting said metal to solidify and thereby permanently anchor said panel edge in said frame structure.

4. In a building structure wherein the foraminous edge portions of a foraminous panel are firmly retained between juxtaposed rigid frame members, a method of increasing the gripping effect of said frame members on said panel edge portions comprising formingv the adjacent gripping faces of said frame members to provide therebetween an outwardly iiaring channel surrounding said panel edge portions, and filling said channel with molten metal at a temperature high enough so that said molten metal interpenetrates the foraminous panel edge, and, upon solidification, anchors said panel edge in said channel.

5. In a building structure wherein the foraminous edge portions of a foraminous panel are firmly retained between juxtaposed rigid frame members, a method of increasing the gripping locking material maybe provided at locations theopening in said unit and having :toramir'iousv edge portions, and aixed, at said edge portions, between said frame members, the adjacent faces of said members having outwardly flaring edges dening a peripherally extending channel surrounding the said panel edge portions and opening outwardly, and relatively soft self-hardening lling material lying in the outwardly aring portion of said channel and interpenetrat- 10 ing the foraminous edge portions of said panel.

HOWARD G. PILLSBURY. 

